Thomas mayes



(No Model.)

T. MAYES.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MAYES, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

' WAVE-POWER APPARATUS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,117, dated February 27, 1883.

' Application filed October 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, THOMAS MAYES, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and improved wave-power apparatus for removing bars and other accumulations from harbors and rivers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the removal of sand-bars and other accumulations in rivers and harbors which shall act automatically by wave-power for discharging jets of water 'upon the accumulations, and thereby loosening them up and scattering the material, so that it will be carried away by the current.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved wave-power apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line to 00, Fig. 1. v e

A is a bottom board or anchor-table, above the ends of which are fitted two buoyant vessels or pontons, B B. The pontons B are attached to the anchor-board A by bolts and posts a, so that the pontons are elevated above the board a short distance, the object beingto sink the anchor-board entirely beneath the surface. To the posts a, chains 1) are connected, which will be provided with anchors for anchoring the vessel securely at the desired place. The two pontons B are connected and braced by horizontal rods 0 0, so that they may not become displaced by the force of the waves. d d are posts securely bolted to the vessel, and extending to a suitable height for supporting a platform, 0.

E is a pumpbarrel fixed at its lower end to the anchor-board A, and rising to a suitable distance above the top platform, 0, in order that said platform may serve as an upper support to the pump. eis the pump-piston or plunger, connected to a cross-head, f, from which the rods 1 g extend downward through the platform 0, and support, at their lower ends, afloat, F. The float F is of suitable size and form for passing between the pontons B B, and it is constructed around the pump-bar rel E, so that the barrel serves as a guide for the float in its movements.

In using the apparatus it is to be anchored in the river or harbor above the bar or obstruction that is to be removed, and the board A is to be loaded, so thatit will be submerged. The pump-tube E is provided with the usual puppet-valve at its lower end to close as the piston moves downwardly, and the piston with the valve that closes on the upward movement, so that on the rise of the float with a wave the piston will lift the water which rises above it on the-downstroke and force it out of the nozzle h. The latter is connected with a hose or piping to convey the water toward the bar which is to be operated upon. By the continuous movement of the float the water will be discharged in strong streams or jets, which will loosen the accumulated material and allow it to be carried away by the current.

The apparatus may be moved from place to place as the work progresses, and, being operated entirely by the force of the waves, it is inexpensive in its operation and requires no especial attention.

Having thus fully described my invent-ion, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The wave-power apparatus consisting of an anchor-board sustained by pontons and provided with a float, and a pump arranged for operation by movement of the float, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the anchor-board A and pontons B, of the float F, the pump E,

and connecting-rods g, substantially as described, for operation as set forth.

THOS. MAYES. Witnesses:

J OHN T. 000K, Soorr D. M. GooDWIN. 

